Official Method

download and install XAMPP
open xampp-control software, and run Apache server and SQL server
open http://localhost to make sure everything runnning
open http://localhost/phpmyadmin, to make sure database running
check password.txt in the install directory for defaut SQL server password and ftp password
now you can start work on your web project in htdoc directory under install directory
- http://localhost/ is pointing to htdoc directory, so use your sub directory to separate project folders.

Portable Method

download portable version, either 7z, zip, or installer version of portable
- https://sourceforge.net/projects/xampp/files/XAMPP%20Windows/5.6.21/
run setup_xampp.bat to tell XAMPP the current correct directory for its structure
run the xampp-control.exe, it will run smoothly (or run as admin)

Default Password for MySQL

it is under xampp folder, password.txt file

Create a Database for Wordpress site

name as wp_test01, collation as choice, create

Download from http://www.apachefriends.org

click on the xampp-control application to go. start web

xampp start apache

start sql

xampp start mysql

start web

xampp stop apache

start sql

xampp stop mysql

windows: simple, put shortcut in windows startup folder
mac: (2 methods)
- ref: http://www.kharysharpe.com/2011/04/automatically-starting-xampp-on-mac-osx-boot-up/
- do shell script “sudo /Applications/xampp/xamppfiles/mampp start” password “YOUR ADMIN PWD” with administrator privileges
linux

in Linux, extract the LAMPP with sudo, or “MySQL couldn't start” error will pop-up later.

sudo tar xvfz xampp-linux-1.7.3a.tar.gz -C /opt
 
# or if you want to extract here
sudo tar xvfz xampp-linux-1.7.3a.tar.gz

Enter in Browser like

ServerName.local

or

192.168.1.machineIP

or

ServerName

Apache configuration	/Applications/xampp/etc/httpd.conf, /Applications/xampp/etc/*.conf
Apache logs	/Applications/xampp/xamppfiles/logs/access_log, /Applications/xampp/xamppfiles/logs/error_log
PHP configuration	/Applications/xampp/etc/php.ini	like upload_max_filesize
MySQL configuration	/Applications/xampp/etc/my.cnf

enable PHPZip module for php
```
\xampp\php\php.ini
```
- remove ; from
```
;extension=zip
```
- save and restart

go to directory : xampp/apache/conf;
backup httpd.conf;
edit httpd.conf, search and replace “DocumentRoot” as following
```
 
# DocumentRoot "/App/xampp/htdocs"
DocumentRoot "/SiteDir"
```
and search and replace the <Directory “/xampp/htdocs”> configure setting as following
```
# <Directory "/App/xampp/htdocs">
<Directory "/SiteDir">
```
server root (optional, only if yours apache server not working, just check path to apache server)
```
# ServerRoot "/xampp/apache"
ServerRoot "/PATHTOHERE/xampp/apache"
```
to add extra directory into server alias list, means, you can ask apache server to use a short name to find other directory on your computer.
- basically, when people use url ServerName/web2/index.htm, it doesn't look at defaut root directory for web2 folder, but go /Dev/WebSys computer folder to find index.htm
- here is example code to add in httpd.conf, and shut down and restart server to make it work
```
<Directory "/Dev/WebSys2">
    Require all granted
</Directory>
Alias /web2 "/Dev/WebSys2"
```
- if you want allow htaccess for url rewrite, make sure like this
```
<Directory "/Dev/WebSys2">
    AllowOverride All
    Require all granted
</Directory>
Alias /web2 "/Dev/WebSys2"
```
- also make your rewrite module for php is loaded in httpd.conf
```
LoadModule rewrite_module modules/mod_rewrite.so
```

xampp customize local domain for a local web path

Steps:

use hosts file to point the domain to local 127.0.0.1, example “test.com”, also include localhost to be safe
```
127.0.0.1       localhost
127.0.0.1       test.com
```

in xampp/apache/conf/extra/httpd-vhosts.conf, add your local domain solver “test.com”, and since localhost is default domain name for root dir, be sure add it as well to use localhost as usual

<VirtualHost *>
    DocumentRoot "/App_Server/xampp/htdocs/wp_site_test_com"
    ServerName test.com
    <DIRECTORY "/App_Server/xampp/htdocs/wp_site_test_com">
    Order allow,deny
    Allow from all
    </DIRECTORY>
    ServerAlias www.test.com
    ErrorLog "logs/test.com-error.log"
    CustomLog "logs/test.com-access.log" common
</VirtualHost>
<VirtualHost *>
    DocumentRoot "/App_Server/xampp/htdocs"
    ServerName localhost
</VirtualHost>

now, restart apahce server, type “test.com” should visit your local path for test.com
extra tips:
1. for wordpress install at that path, it will pop up ask database server setting in wordpress initial step,
2. since wordpress alone dont create database for itself, you need go http://localhost/phpmyadmin/ to create a database for wordpress, i would suggest name as “wpdb_test_com” with collation setting
3. then, continue wordpress db connection with the db name you created, default db for xampp is root/no pass. rest as default should finish wordpress initialization

edit xampp/apache/conf/httpd.conf;
search and replace “80” to your port number
```
ServerName localhost:80
```
and search and replace “80” in
```
Listen 80
```

Blocking "Domain Smacks" in Apache

ref: http://blog.foxxtrot.net/2010/02/blocking-domain-smacks-in-apache.html

RewriteEngine on
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} smackingdomain.com
RewriteRule .+ [F] # Return 403 Forbidden
RewriteRule .+ http://jokestersite.com/ [R] # Redirect back on the joker.

run command in terminal:
```
xampp security
```

ref: http://robsnotebook.com/xampp-builtin-security

MySQL database server configuration is stored in the “mysql” database inside itself.
- the server user is stored in DB: “mysql” > Table: “user”
phpmyadmin control panel system is a front interface for the database server

tables	MySQL access control
user	host name + user name + password	select,insert,update,delete rights	which means knowing user and pass wont grant access, and possible to set local only access from its php server; also it mean sets foreign server call possible with maybe coincided names
db	database level access control
table priv	table level access control
columns_priv	column level access control
procs_priv	procs access control

SHOW GRANTS FOR 'joe'@'office.example.com';

limits of MyServer server:
- A password applies globally to an account. You cannot associate a password with a database, table

error: Apache cant start,
- solution 1: run setup_xampp.bat after copy, to auto set root directory correctly
- solution 2: make sure the website folder that defined in \xampp\apache\conf\httpd.conf portion DocumentRoot directory exists.
  - also check httpd.conf and change to 82 if 80 port in use.
- solution 3: just go to \xampp\apache\logs folder, and delete all 4 files, so it can generate itself again.
- solution 4: run with admin rights
error: MySQL cant start, access right
- solution: delete the file that has no access right
error: php time out, especially when do install type of script
- go php.ini configure file, and search and update “max_execution_time = 300” (5min)
error: upload failed
- make sure php.ini allow the big size upload, search and replace these 2 line in php.ini from configure button menu
```
upload_max_filesize = 50M
post_max_size = 50M
```